A Washington D.C.-based environmental group published a lengthy report [April 29, 2025] criticizing no-till systems across the U.S. for their dependence on chemicals and demanding the industry shift toward “regenerative” systems that focus on organic farming methods.
But farm industry stakeholders interviewed by No-Till Farmer say the report contains much misinformation and suggested the group behind it does not have a full understanding of the benefits of no-till systems.
The 65-page report from Friends of the Earth (FOTE) describes current no-till systems with labels such as “factory no-till” and “industrial no-till,” owing to their use of herbicides, pesticides and seed treatments — in spite of the fact thee products have long been approved for use by regulators.
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“Anti-agriculture groups want to call these benefits into question to advance their ideological crusade against crop protection tools, despite the impact their loss would have on the environment,” [the Modern Ag Alliance said] in a statement. “Radical organizations like Friends of the Earth recognize that less farming means fewer people. Look no further than the organization’s founder calling population growth a ‘menace’ — its agenda should come as no surprise.”
